Read this week's issue online exactly as it appears in print.

Twitter

Lisbon tourist tax to pay for Eurovision

National broadcaster RTP has this week confirmed that next year’s Eurovision song contest will be held in Lisbon’s MEO Arena in the Park of Nations.

The popular contest’s grand finale will take place on 12 May 2018. According to Lisbon Mayor Fernando Medina, the €1 tourist tax per person per night charged to visitors staying in the city will cover the bill to stage the event. In 2016, the first year the tourist tax supplement was introduced it earned €13.5 million for the city’s coffers.The Eurovision Song Contest is coming to Portugal after Portuguese singer Salvador Sobral won at this year’s event, in Kiev, Ukraine, with the song Amar Pelos Dois.The festival to choose Portugal’s entry next year will be held in March 2018, in the northern city of Guimarães, while the two semi finals will be held in Lisbon, on 8 and 10 May, followed by the final.It is the first time in 16 years that the Portuguese ‘Festival da Canção’ is being held outside of Lisbon.RTP CEO, Gonçalo Reis, said: “We are very excited. We understand the responsibility we’re being given. We understand the complexity, the grandeur and the requisites it entails. But we also know that RTP, with its partners, can grow in accordance with these situations and we’re going to make the most of it.”Mr. Reis described the contest as “a huge window into Portugal, into the city, the music industry, the content industry, and also for RTP. And therefore it is a great opportunity to project ourselves internationally.”He did, however, also concede that Portugal’s Eurovision would be the “most economic” festival “in recent years.” No budget has been revealed for the festival.But while the main events will be taking place in Lisbon’s Park of Nations, Terreiro do Paço will also be hosting a series of shows relating to Eurovision, transforming the Portuguese capital into a ‘Eurovision Village’ for ten days.